A Belated Mother’s Day: In the Company of Ancient Trees

Today, my mom and I finally enjoyed our belated Mother's Day outing — and what a journey it turned out to be. Our destination? A hidden gem tucked deep in the Emmental hills: the oldest yew tree in Switzerland.

They call it the 1,000-year-old yew, though some sources suggest that age might be slightly generous. Be that as it may, this ancient tree certainly radiates timelessness. What makes it even more remarkable is how secretive its location remains — there are no coordinates to be found online. 

Were it not for a chance encounter with the very farmer whose land the tree stands on — several miles away from the actual site — we would likely have wandered in vain. He kindly waved us along and let us follow his tractor, guiding us straight to the venerable yew.

The story doesn’t end there. Back around 1990, the then-landowner reportedly planned to sell the yew to a carpenter. We can all guess what would have happened. Thankfully, a group of wealthy and influential individuals stepped in. For CHF 810 — which today would be worth about CHF 11,000 — they acquired the tree, the soil it stands on, and the right of way. 

They placed the tree under protection and donated it to the Swiss Science Academy. A small sum for such a lasting legacy.

After a yummy lunch, we drove about an hour west to pay our respects to another elder of the forest — a mighty sycamore maple. With a crown spanning thirty meters, it's a tree that’s lived for several hundred years and stands today as a powerful symbol of vitality. Well-rooted in the earth, yet stretching high into the sky, it feels like a perfect metaphor for the balance between man and nature. For the record: no, it’s not a tree you can hug — not unless you bring several friends.

The local tourism office fittingly refers to it as a Kraftbaum — a tree of power — and standing beneath its wide branches, you can feel why. There’s a quiet presence to it, a sense of strength that hums just beneath the surface.

“Kraftbaum” is a German word that translates to “tree of power” or “tree of strength.” It refers to a tree believed to hold special natural energy, often because of its age, size, or unique setting. Many people visit such trees for reflection, grounding, or simply to reconnect with nature in a meaningful way.

We found this quiet giant in a small village fittingly named Heiligkreuz — Holy Cross — a place that seems to hold its own quiet reverence for the natural world.

Two trees, hundreds of years apart, and a day well spent. Time slowed down for us today — a gentle reminder that not all treasures come with signs and crowds. Some just wait quietly to be found.

Have you ever stumbled across a natural or historical gem that wasn’t marked on a map? I'd love to hear your story.